Leanne Shawler, Artist

OK, I know this is not particularly cool to post twice in one day, but tough. I managed to Pin God First (led by Jennifer Dukes Lee) every day this month (of November) except one day when I had an early business meeting. How did it go? Well, even though I light candles at my home altar and pray ... my mind managed to whirl and drift and for the most part it was pretty frustrating. I thought my brain would be more quiet, somehow, that I'd hear God more or at least sense the Divine. I was thinking that maybe what I need to do is a month of Anglican rosarying (I'm sure that isn't a word) first thing in the morning to empty out my brain but instead, today, I put together a schedule for myself to continue the lectio divina practice through December. I thought it'd be neat to share it here in case, you know, you wanted to too. The names in parentheses are for audio meditations. Todd shares audio lectio divina meditations at Lectio Divina (When in Doubt ). I haven...

After missing one day on the P in God First challenge , Thursday I got back into it but the NRSV of Psalm 37:7 didn't resonate even a little bit. So I went to the next verse and this poem/reflection resulted. be still the psalm says I try and end up itchy -- antsy -- a mind-racing failure  be still the psalm says like a forested pond smooth glass life teems hidden skims the surface is that really still? A trout crashes upward, Pirouettes a response To an unseen call Step down to the shore Taste flowing waters, Life-giving Being still Is not becoming stone. To soften, give, respond, Some movement Is required Yeah, I don't have forested ponds where I live. I've seen them back east though...

Romans 2:29: "Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God." During lectio divina, the phrase that resonated was "a matter of the heart". One is usually passionate about a matter of the heart. The phrase also evokes emotional responses.  I did wonder if the Greek had been mistranslated, as so often "heart" is substituted for "gut".  A matter of the gut, where instinct and intuition dwells. Today we talk about having a gut feeling. It's kind of primal, visceral.  If gut is what is really meant, the "real circumcision" Paul talks of is that the Way of God has taken residence deep in our being, within our cells. It means we respond to the world instinctively with God's love and compassion rather than with the mind working out the law. And yes, I'm aware of th...

This morning I lit candles, having added some to my home altar space, quietly chanting in my mind and settled down to the day's lectio divina, which took about 15 minutes.  On the 2nd, the Scripture selection was 1 Thessalonians 1:4 and the phrase that resonated was "please God". Not to gain favor with God, but as a response to God. Yesterday, it was Matthew 5:11, a verse from the Beatitudes, which I'd heard as part of Sunday's readings for All Saints. The phrase that resonated "Blessed are you". Explored that as gratitude and then got sidetracked by thoughts of work. (Just in case you thought this was easy for me.) Lectio completed, I set a timer and pulled out Feasting on the Word and the Jewish Annotated New Testament , thinking to write a belated "blogging the lectionary" post. Maybe tomorrow. I've asked for some Hebrew assistance, so I'll get back to you on that. Maybe. The effect of pinning God first t...

Pin God 1st - from Jennifer Dukes Lee's site The first piece of Scripture for the Pin God First challenge is Matthew 10:39: Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. The phrase which came to me was "find your life" (and that's not even correct, it's "find their life"). I delved into the context, as this is toward the end of Jesus talking about loving God first above all else, even family, taking up the cross and leaving all behind. Last night, my hubby and I went to see "The Good Lie" which has Reese Witherspoon in the supporting cast. It's about the lost children of Sudan and their long journey to America. It broke my heart twice -- because it's a recent release I won't reveal the spoilers -- so let's just say it was an incredibly unjust moment and a beautiful heart/soul moment. Tears kept welling up on the way home and this movie disturbed me. Disturbed me in ...

Jennifer Dukes Lee has challenged her readers to a " Pin God First" challenge for the month of November. She'd found that with her iPhone by her bed, her prayer time for God at that waking time had been lost to playing with her iPhone. I knew I had to read this before I left for work this morning because I have been struggling to not go to the computer first thing in the morning (that is, after getting dressed, feeding the dog and getting breakfast for myself to bring to the computer). My iPhone wouldn't last a second on my bedside table, it'd get lost amidst all the books.  I read a catalog this morning in order not to be on the computer first thing. Normally, I pray to God during my commute, because I take a bus and I do tend to get off track in my prayers sharing my concerns to God. I think for me, the hook is getting caught up -- this need to know what's been happening in the world and in my family and friends' lives. For Jennifer it's a ...